Vehicle lamp



Jan. 18, 1938. B. s. FLORADAY VEHICLE LAMP Original Filed Aug. 8, 1935 Mum tmnsmtses M2 tgxo.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of an alternate form in which the housing is of molded plastic material;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a dome light assembly in which a switch is employed; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4 showing the manner in which the switch lever projects through an opening in the rim.

This application constitutes a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 35,354 filed August 8, 1935 and entitled Dome light assembly.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dome light assembly consists of a base or housing H], which is preferably a sheet metal stamping and is cup-shaped to receive a bracket consisting of a base H, which lies flat against the rear wall of the housing to which it is secured by a rivet l2, and a socket portion l3 integral with the base H and extending outwardly therefrom at an inclined angle. A bulb Ed is adapted to be mounted in the socket portion l3 to be positioned at an acute angle with a ainst our 111 15011 8 Floradayflfi- 'loledo, Ohio, uracfl mnanm. TDl dm-Ohio; aicor rationrof;

contact? plate -l 5 is adaptedto engage the rear ei'i'd'of heiam'pand-sheets side wan-brine g"by a{post"f| nsulat'ing washers" IT l'ating thisf post' from "the? adj acent fp'a'rt s'.

undrstod '20 wh" hitermij'nat es in an flange 2 providing 1 the open 'Coyeringfthefface or "p01 tion of-th" ousin is lens122offtranslucent materiaLbut p Plaskon. The body portion ar'dl'y, as indicated in Fi hat he'lamp bulblt'is positioned closely t' the under sweetener infsuchimannerthat t enti r a 6 -is Ilurfiina't ed" and elimi- Y spots. Integralwith army therefroin-is-a'n v p ewfea theflanges 21 a'nd Z'S', upon solely to retain these parts in assembled relation. To provide a finished appearance for the assembly, a rim 24 provides a continuation of the lens portion 22 and inclines outwardly and inwardly from the flange portion 23, the end portion of the rim curving inwardly in this instance.

An important advantage of the dome light assembly above described resides in the fact that the entire lens portion is illuminated by the lamp M and the lens can be attached to the base or housing ll) without the use of screws, bayonet joints, clamping rings or other devices commonly used for these purposes. In this manner, applicant is enabled more readily to mount the lens and this can be effected at a lower cost. By mounting the lamp bulb M in the manner above described the housing or base Hi requires a less amount of metal, since it is considerably shallower than similar housings, so that the cost is likewise reduced in this manner.

In order to enhance the attractive appearance of the assembly, apertures 25 may be formed in the housing flange 2i and. apertures 26 in the lens flange 23 in registry with each other to enable some of the light rays to pass therethrough that 'post [6 provides a ding la terally from the side walls of the of moldedplasand illuminate portions of the rim 24. The number and arrangement of these apertures may be varied as desired, depending on the desired effect.

In the form shown in Figure 3, the base or housing Nib is of molded insulating material, such as Plaskon, which eliminates the necessity of using insulating washers between the live post I 6b and the ground connection I91), the later serving to secure the base Nb of the lamp bracket to the housing. It will also be noted that the rear Wall of the housing i821 is inclined thereby to provide a more efficient reflecting surface for the light rays and also to effect a substantial saving in material. In this instance, the lens, which is also of molded plastic material, is similar to that shown and described in connection with Figure 2, although the openings 25b and 26b in the housing and. lens flanges, respectively, may or may not be used as desired.

It will be apparent that the structures above described do not employ a switch formed as a part of the housing, such structures being connected with a pillar or other part of the vehicle. In the form shown on Figures 4 and an elongate slot 29 is provided in the rim 240 through which extends a switch lever 30. In order to insure that the lens 220 is properly mounted on the housing or base, a groove 3| is formed in the flange Zlc to receive a projection 32 formed in the lens flange 230.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle lamp comprising a housing having an open mouth, a peripheral flange at the mouth thereof, a one-piece lens and rimmemlber of molded plastic material having the lens portion closing the mouth of the housing and the rim portion extending laterally of such opening, said rim portion merging into the lens portion with substantially continuous unbroken line, and a resilient flange integral with and extending inwardly from said member substantially at the junction of said rim and lens parts, said flanges telescoping with each other to hold the parts in assembled relation and said rim member terminating at such point as to substantially conceal said flange members.

2. A vehicle lamp comprising a housing having an open end defined by a peripheral flange, a onepiece lens and rim member of molded plastic material having an inwardly extending resilient flange telescoping in frictional engagement with the housing flange, said resilient flange extending inwardly from said lens substantially at the junction of said lens and rim parts, the rim portion of the member extending laterally and providing the sole rim for both the housing and the lens.

3. A vehicle lamp comprising a housing having a mouth, a flange at the mouth and extending outwardly therefrom, a lens, a resilient flange integral with the underside of the lens and extending inwardly therefrom for telescopic frictional engagement with said housing flange, a laterally extending rim integral with said lens and terminating in a plane substantially coincident with the inner end of said housing flange.

4. A domelight assembly comprising a housing of molded plastic material and having an open end and a rear wall, a lamp bracket having a base fixed flat against said wall and a socket extending outwardly from said base, a ground connection leading from said base, a spring contact plate, a live connection on said rear wall for one end of said contact plate, a lens of molded plastic material having an inwardly extending flange frictionally engaging said housing, and a rim integral with said lens and extending outwardly fromv said casing.

5. A vehicle lamp comprising a housing having a flanged outer end, a lens having an inwardly extending translucent resilient flange frictionally engaging said flanged end, and a translucent rim extending laterally of the junction between said second flange and lens, said flanged end being apertured to enable light rays from the housing to illuminate a portion of said rim.

6. A dome light assembly comprising a housing having a flanged end, a lens having an integral inwardly extending resilient flange frictionally engaging said flanged end, and a rim extending laterally from said second flange, said rim and lens being of the same material and integral with each other.

BURTON S. FLORADAY. 

